Difference between revisions of "Archontophoenix purpurea"

Although still fairly rare in cultivation compared with the King Palm, A. purperea shows similar adaptability being suitable for a variety of climates ranging from tropical right through to some cool temperate. This adaptability, combined with its stunning features, should help to improve its popularity in cultivation, although it is somewhat slower growing than some of the other palms in the genus. Archontophoenix purpurea looks best grown in partial shade, but will handle full sun with an abundance of water and can even sit happily in fairly wet, poor draining soils. Whilst it will handle pot culture, its eventual size makes it unsuitable for most interior settings, although its relatively slow growth and ornamental features may be enough for some people to use it in a large greenhouse or conservatory during its early years. It will survive minor, short term frosts, but will require some protection in most cool temperate areas, which will obviously become a difficult proposition as the palm gets larger.

Southern California: A. purpurea thrives in Southern California. Like the rest of its Archontophoenix cousins, A. purpurea likes plenty of water, plenty of sun, rich soil and needs enough vertical space to reach its maximum eventual height.

Unlike most of of its co-generic cousins, A. purpurea will take a considerable amount of frost. David Bleistein, of La Habra California reports that specimens about three feet (1 m) tall came through four days of all-night 27 F freezes virtually unscathed, while A. tuckeri the same size and larger, a couple yards (meters) away, died outright or were severely damaged.